North Shore University Hospital is a proud member of the New York Blood Center's National Cord Blood Program. The material routinely discarded with the placenta after your baby is born can help save the life of someone in need of a bone marrow transplant.

If you have a blood relative who has been diagnosed with a disease and may benefit from a cord blood transplant, you may store your cord blood and earmark it for this relative.

You will have the opportunity to donate cord blood after the umbilical cord is cut and the placenta is delivered. The cord blood is taken from the placenta and its attached portion of the umbilical cord. Collection does not interfere with the care of you or your baby. You can give permission for this cord blood to be saved instead of discarded. If you choose not to participte, the cord blood will be discarded.